Sucker-rod catcher



Patented Dec. 28, 1926.

Ptl'l'ED STATES ED CURTIS SMITH, OF

GRAHAM, OKLAHOMA.

SUCKER-ROD CATCHER.

Application filed June 1,

This invention relates to Well apparatus and has particular reference toa catcher for sucker rods and the like.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of the abovecharacter to be mounted in association with a well casing to preventaccidental dropping of the sucker rod within the well casing.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a device adapted tolimit the downward movement of the sucker rod within the casing.

A still further object of the invention is to provite a device of theabove mentioned character whereby the sucker rod may be readily elevatedbut retained against downward inovement beyond a predetermined position.v

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which is extremely simple and durable in construction anddesigned to operate efficiently.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent asthe description progresses.

In the accompanying drawing forming a art of this specification and inwhich like numerals are employed to deslgnat-e corresponding partsthroughout the same Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the deviceemljiodying my invention in associat on with a sucker rod,

FigureQ is a similar view showing the device in section,

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure2,

Figure 4 is a partial sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure andFigure is a top plan view of a portion of the device embodyingmyinvention.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown thepreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral generally indicates asection of a sucker rod of the type commonly employed in well operationsembodying the usual longitudinal body portion 11 of circular crosssection and the enlarged extremities 12 of rectangular cross section,one extremity of each section is provided with an internally screwthreaded bore and the other extremlty with a screw threaded shank asshown at 13 to permit convenient engagement of the adjacent ends of thesections.

As is Well known to those familiar with 1925. Serial No. 34.211.

the art, the sucker rod operated within the well casing is composed of aplurality of sections as'indicated at 10. It is often necessary whenrepairing or replacing parts of the well operating mechanism to withdrawthe sucker rod from the casing. This is usually accomplished byelevating the sucker rod and removing the uppermost sections thisoperation being repeated until all of the sections have been removedfrom the well. During the removal of the uppermost sections theremaining lower sections extending within the well casing are held inposition by suitable mechanism and itfrequently happens that thisholding mechanism is faulty and improperly secured on the sectionspermitting the sections in the Well to drop to the bottom. This causesgreat inconvenience and expense in engaging and elevating the lower-edsections. l Vith this in mind, I have provided means to prevent theaccidental dropping of the sucker rod sections should they becomedisengaged from the retaining mechanism.

Referring now more particularly to the apparatus embodying my invention,the numeral 14 generally designates a supporting sleeve of cylindricalformation, the inner diameter being great enough to permit convenientpassage of the enlarged extremities of the sections 10. The intermediateportions ot' the outer wall of the sleeve 14 are tapered downwardly toprovide walls o't heavier construction on the upper extremity, thepurpose of which will he hereii'iatter more fully des -ribed. The lowerend of the sleeve 14; is externally threaded as at 15 for connectionwith suitable retaining means mounted adjacent the upper extremity ofthe well casing. It is to be noted that the sleeve 14 may be constructedof two complementary sections connected by tongue and groove connectionsor in any desirable manner.

The upper extremity of the sleeve 14 carries a tilting cover 16 ofcircular construction adapted to snugly fit on the upper edge of thesleeve. This cover is provided with a radially directed slot 17extending from the central portion of the cover to the outer edgethereof, the purpose of this construction will become apparent as thedescription progresses. This cover is substantially equal in its outerdiameter to the upper Wall of the sleeve and is provided on the lowerface ti l thereof with an annular flange 18 adapted to snugly lit theinterior of the sleeve to pro vide a durable and well fitting structure.

Secured upon the cover 16 diametrically o nosite the slot 17 is an anular bracket ll e lever 19 provided adjacent the edge of the cover witha U-shaped depression 20 engageable with an angular bracket 21 to form ahinge about which the cover 16 may be tilted. The outer free end of thebracket lever 19 is provided with an extension arm bent downwardly inangular relation to the horiaontal plane of the cover and adapted tocounterbalance the weight of the cover so as to normally retain the samein an angular tilted position, as shown to advantage in Figure 1.

In use, when the sucker rod sections are being withdrawn from the wellcasing they are permitted to freely pass through the improved catcherapparatus. The longitudinal body portions 11 of the sections are movedthrough the cover 16 in its angular tilted position, as shown in Figurel, by reason of the slot 17 which is built sutficiently wider for thispurpose. The enlarged extremities 12 formed on the sections aresubstantially larger in construction than the slot 17 and, therefore, itis necessary that the cover be forced to a substantially verticalposition to permitpassage of these enlarged connecting extremities ofthe sections. Thus it is seen that, during movement of the reduced bodyportions of the sections the cover 16 remains in angular position but,as the enlarged portions of the sections engage the cover they willswing the same upwardly to a vertical position to permit the sections topass freely through the sleeve. Due to the peculiar consiruction of thebracket lever 19 the cover is normally held in its tilted position at anangle of approximately the arm 22 in this instance retaining asubstantially vertical position. In the event that the rod liftingapparatus should accidentally release the uppermost section the entireunit of sections within the well casing would be permitted to drop adistance equalling that of the nearest upper connection of the sections,the maximum downward movement being limited to the length of onesection. This will necessarily be the case as the cover 16 being in anangular position will engage the enlarged connecting extremities of thesections, the cover being forced to a downward horizontal position asshown in Figure 2 and securely retaining the sucker rod thereon. It isclearly apparent that the device will meet with the approval of thoseinterested in the operation of wells of different character due to thevery simple and efficient structure of the catcher which may bemanufactured at a very reasonable cost and readily positioned inassociation with the conventional types of well casings.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as the preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes as to the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without. departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A sucker rod catcher comprising a supporting sleeve, a cover hingedlymounted on the upper end of the sleeve having a radially directed slotformed therein, the said slot being arranged to permit movement of thereduced portion of a sucker rod therethrongh and prevent passage of theenlarged portions thereof, and an angular lever secured to the roveradapted to normally swing the cover to a raised angular position.

2. A sucker rod catcher including a supporting sleeve, an angularbracket secured adjacent the upper end of the sleeve, a cover formed toengage the upper end of the sleeve and having a slot formed thereinarranged to permit slidable movement therethrough of the reduced portionof the sucker rod but prevent passage of the enlarged portion thereof,and an angular lever secured to the cover having a U-shaped depressionformed adjacent the cover connection to provide a hinge bracket for thecover and an outward extension adapted to normally swing the cover to anupwardly directed elevated position.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature.

ED CURTIS SMITH.

